SATURDAY SIX Artist Spotlight: The Theme Park Artwork of Stephen Christ (AKA Design Pavilion)

Every February – to coincide with EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts – this fine blog series presents a series of Artist Spotlight features that focus on individual artists within the theme park community. We have done many articles on some incredibly talented artists; including SonderQuest, Brian Cooper, and Savannah Hamilton, but they all have one thing in common, their main form of artistic expression is drawing.

“Art” is so much more than just drawing though, and in fact it includes an almost infinite amount of ways that people express themselves creatively. The Artist Spotlight series wanted to reflect that level of imagination and there is no better example than Stephen Christ, a person whose wonderful creations we often wax poetically about in our Theme Park Enjoyment Index.

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First of all, a big thanks to Derek for asking me to be part of this rather exclusive club of supremely talented artists. I keep to myself usually, which is the exact opposite of what a self-promoting designer should do. But Derek is prying me out of my shell. One of my least favorite things is writing about myself. So dreams really do come true!

I think of myself as somewhat of a renaissance man with incredibly varied interests. I’ve been heavily influenced by pop culture, sports, music, and art. Of course the intersection of all of these passions is theme parks.

I remember my first trip to Disney World and taking a picture in the tree-filled hub in front of the castle in a winter coat, and the next trip when the castle was turned into the 25th anniversary cake. I remember riding Horizons and thinking, “This is the greatest experience of my life.” Little did I know then that these trips would have such a profound influence on me much later in life.

# 6 – EPCOT CENTER

I studied industrial design at Purdue University, and my first and only job for the last 15 years has been as a model maker creating prototypes of the latest and greatest products you use every day. (Cue Rob Yeo’s “All of my best work is under NDA” pin…) I sand, grind, paint, and wipe my dirty hands on my jeans. So during the early days of my career, I would come home and have no desire to make anything at all. But a designer needs to keep those creative juices flowing at all times. Sitting in front of a computer at night, keeping my hands clean, and doing graphic design fit the bill. I was inspired by other artists’ interpretations of vintage travel posters, and combining them with the original EPCOT Center pavilions seemed like a no-brainer.

As a model maker, I focus heavily on small details. So designing with a minimalist style took me out of my comfort zone. I constantly asked myself, “Is it too simple?” But that’s what made my posters unique. They were the first designs I really put on the internet, and it was the first time I received compliments on my designs from people I had never met.

Over the years, EPCOT continued to be a huge influence on me the more I learned about its history. The detail the designers added was fantastic.

As I progressed in my daytime job and took on more of a manager role, my day-to-day activities focused more on sitting in front of a computer. So when I got home at night, I wanted more and more to make things with my hands and get back to what I loved doing most. I bought a laser cutter for my house and started thinking about what I could make. To me, a laser cutter is the most versatile tool a model maker can use. It’s quick, easy, and does not require an overabundance of computer skills. Most people gravitate towards 3D printers, but those require a fairly deep knowledge of CAD modeling skills. A laser cutter lets you think in 3D using 2D tools and enables quick ideation.

I started making earrings, coasters, and small replica models inspired by all of the little details at EPCOT that had maybe been ignored. Or at least under-appreciated.

EPCOT Center used colorful striped banners for its opening day ceremony. I turned these into bookmarks that could be displayed with simple stands.

World Showcase has bright blue banners lining the edges of the lagoon that are adorned with a compass rose. I used a combination of laser cut plastic, 3D printed parts, and UV printed fabric to make a desktop-sized model.

# 5 – Animal Kingdom

When I started getting familiar with my laser cutter, I wanted to add something to my designs to make them special. Something to make them pop. I wanted to add lighting effects. If you’ve ever been to the parks in the early morning or after sunset, you’ve seen how lighting plays a role in setting the atmosphere and making areas come to life. There’s a careful consideration for what type of lighting is used in different lands. There aren’t just floodlights illuminating everything.

Some of the best lighting is at Animal Kingdom.  Lanterns and more traditional lights give paths and the fronts of shops a warm glow.  I always loved the green logo lanterns at the front of the parks and the ones dotting the paths of the Oasis.  They set the mood for the start of a day of exploring.

I put my own spin on them, incorporating other animals seen in the park, and letting people choose their own combinations. I have rarely made the same lantern twice. Everyone’s choices are unique.

And I also thought, “What if the Imagineers would have completed the concept of Beastly Kingdom?” I designed my own lantern inspired by the one at the front of the park but added the mythical creatures originally promised for the park – a unicorn, sea monster, and the yeti from Expedition Everest.

There’s more to Animal Kingdom than just lighting. There’s so much detail put into every corner of the park. (Thanks Joe!) It’s frustrating to hear people say it’s a half day park or their least favorite. After going on all of the rides at the parks over the years, I’ve started appreciating the theme and atmosphere more and more. It’s not just about getting ride credits and leaving. Take some time to relax on vacation and appreciate the scene the artists have set.

When you walk into the park and the Tree of Life is revealed, it’s hard to focus on anything else. But you’re actually greeted first by a colorful toucan and hornbill! Most people notice them on the way out instead. I designed plant stakes inspired by these dapper birds so they could be brought home but still kept in a natural floral setting, and this was one of my first times using fabric to keep the models as authentic as possible. Again, another unique material to try and set my designs apart.

 

But back to lighting! My favorite addition to Animal Kingdom the last few years has been the Merry Menagerie and holiday decorations. The paper lanterns that line the roofs in the Tree of Life area are amazing and should probably stay up year-round. The lanterns included a fox, dove, owl, and squirrel.

I wanted to take it one step further and design my own luminaries. So I took inspiration from the animal puppets that interact with guests and made a penguin, polar bear, and reindeer. I enjoyed translating these 3D designs into flat lantern faces.

I even made the cuddling owls over the depot by request. Sometimes the best ideas come from friends and followers, and I was happy to indulge!

Inspired by the animal luminaries, I created a Tree of Life version.

Of course I had to make luminaries inspired by Rivers of Light. The fact that the amphitheater still sits empty across from Expedition Everest is criminal. It deserves to be lit up and filled with music every night. The animal totems and lotus barges that danced across the water were such a fun way to end a day at the park.

I took the same type of design from my Merry Menagerie lanterns and applied it to the icons from the nighttime show, using color changing lights to recreate the color and movement of the floats. Hopefully there’s a new show on the water to inspire me again soon!

# 4 – Resorts

Inspiration can come from many places, and the Disney resorts are filled with excellent design motifs and details. The Polynesian Resort is one of the most popular places to stay at Disney World, and this is no surprise when you look at the unique styling present throughout the grounds. I love the tribal, geometric patterns all over the resort. I made my first set of plaques inspired by the designs on the Polynesian’s bungalows.

My second set of designs was inspired by the newer porte-cochère that the monorail travels through at the entrance to the resort. It carries a similar design style to the bunglows, but with some harsher angles, brighter colors, and more dynamic shapes. I enjoy documenting this design evolution.

Wilderness Lodge is one of my favorite resorts to explore, with its blend of Art Deco and craftsman design. I designed tea light votives inspired by the lighting fixtures at the Artist Point restaurant. I love the simple, harsh black lines against the soft yellow glow.

If you’re a fan of Craftsman and Arts and Crafts design, the crown jewel resort is the Grand Californian. Every detail is perfect. My lantern inspired by the ones from the resort is among my favorite things I’ve made recently. It’s laser cut from steel, formed and riveted together, and painted with a metallic bronze finish. The perfect décor complement for any fans of the resort.

One of my other favorite resorts is Animal Kingdom Lodge. First, they have amazing food options. And seeing the animals on the savanna is a great free activity. But I love the natural and organic details throughout the resort. Taking these and turning them into laser cut patterns is a fun design exercise.

#3 – Shirts

One of the greatest thrills is to see people walking around the Disney parks wearing a shirt I designed. Like most of my designs, I enjoy shirts that are subtle and not too blatantly Disney-inspired.

My EPCOT Center designs were formatted to fit on shirts, as well as my Four Parks Tribute that celebrated the icons of each park. Yes, I used the hat for DHS. I will not be apologizing.

Harkening back to a forgotten time, floor lighting in Epcot used to function! For decades, fiber optic lights twinkled in the pavement around Innoventions. While not an E-Ticket attraction, stuff like this is what made Epcot, Epcot.

I tried to capture each unique pattern and saved them on shirts as a fond reminder of what used to be.

 

This is also where some of my more out-there ideas have ended up. From a Journey into Imagination – Daft Punk crossover event, to the Pirates of the Caribbean invading It’s a Small World.

# 2 – Custom Gifts

A large portion of the work I make goes unseen by the general public because of NDAs, but another reason is because they are custom gifts.  Now, something I enjoy is adapting my existing designs to fit new purposes. I made these birdhouses inspired by the balloons of The Land for my mom. Each one is themed to a different season!

I made this framed poster for someone to give as a wedding gift to their spouse by adding a new logo to my Four Parks poster. So their story converges with the history of one of their favorite places.

The craziest custom design I’ve made was this Christmas tree topper based on the Sun Wheel from California Adventure. I’ve always loved the original Paradise Pier and the unique, kitschy décor. Everything was laser cut from plastic and colored with a combination of painting and UV printing. I tried to integrate the Ferris wheel structure into the design so it looked like it was chopped off of the actual ride. It’s exciting to get requests like this from outside sources that align perfectly with what I actually want to make.

Going along with the other lanterns I’ve made, one person reached out to ask me to make a replica of the lantern from the movie Hook. It had sentimental value between him and his child that was leaving for college. I modeled and 3D printed the lantern parts and painted them to look like wooden sticks. A remote controlled light lets the user “blow out” the lantern. Goodnight Neverland!

When I first met my wife, we went to the Art Institute of Chicago and saw her favorite exhibit, Chagall’s America Windows. So I made a replica lightbox for her birthday 4 months after we first met. Everything was laser cut from acrylic and wood, and the stained glass windows are lit from behind with LED panels. And with that, I set the bar impossibly high for future gifts.

# 1 – IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth

The greatest nighttime show ever created has also been my greatest source of inspiration. I don’t necessarily remember the first time I saw it. I probably didn’t get it. But as I got older and learned more about each act of the show, I started to appreciate the artistry, technology, and thought that went into every second of lighting up Epcot’s lagoon and providing an inspirational ending to guests’ nights.

The torches that line the World Showcase lagoon have always been one of my favorite details of the park and IllumiNations. From when they’re blown out at the start of the show with the smooth baritone of Jim Cummings’ voice to when they ignite again with the chorus of We Go On. They are a unique detail that separated Reflections of Earth from all the regular fireworks shows.

When I first designed and shared my replica torch, it became clear that a lot of other people felt the same way. It quickly became the most popular thing I’ve ever designed and gave me many late nights of covering my fingers in super glue.

The Reflections of Earth show was composed of three main acts – Chaos, Order, and Meaning. Since each act featured different set pieces, fireworks, and colors, I created a series of posters that captured the feeling of each act. Chaos represented the birth of the universe and the Earth with the Inferno Barge engulfed in flames. Order showcased the evolution of humans and their achievements and displayed images from around the world on the Earth Globe.

 

But there is no IllumiNations without the final act – Meaning. You know the one. The Earth Globe that had been displaying pixelated LED images of cultures around the world suddenly starts to open like a flower, and the final torch emerges to be passed on to everyone in the crowd. Talk about a surprising and awe-inspiring finish to a nighttime spectacular. I’ve mentioned designing things to be unique. This wasn’t just a regular fireworks show. It was designed to be something better. So I set out on a years-long journey to recreate the globe as accurately as I could.

I started with a laser cut version. Each petal was cut and assembled from 8 different pieces, and a complicated system of gears to make it open. This was a good proof of concept, but it wouldn’t work if I wanted to plan on making more than one globe. And it didn’t even have the continents yet.

So I started modeling everything to be 3D printed instead. The most ambitious show centerpiece deserved an ambitious plan to recreate it. I have now made Christmas ornaments of the globe in open and closed positions, and a small desktop version that lights up and opens and closes. A larger, spinning version that opens automatically is in process to hopefully be released one day.

 

Honorable Mention – Chicago

Living in one of the biggest cities in the world has given me countless opportunities to explore Chicago’s unique skyscrapers and learn about the details that maybe aren’t always obvious. I created a series of posters showcasing how Chicago’s architecture has changed through the decades since the Great Chicago Fire ravaged the city in 1871.

I chose a different building from each decade that most exemplified the architectural style of that time (along with a few extras). I drew everything by hand and tried to capture as much detail as possible. Some curls and flourishes are so small, you really need to look closely to see them!

After a successful Kickstarter campaign to make postcard sets and print the poster series on metallic paper, I partnered with the Chicago Architecture Center to feature my work in their new downtown Chicago gift shop. My framed poster was the first thing that greeted visitors into the center. It was a huge honor and really made me feel like I left my mark on the city.

Double Secret Honorable Mention – Space

Aside from theme parks, I’m a huge fan of space exploration. One of the coolest things I’ve been able to do was tour NASA’s Vehicle Assembly Building and stand in the flame trench of Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center. I designed a series of posters called Launches and Landings to celebrate NASA’s spaceflight programs over the years. The colors and visual cues allude to the evolving technology and how each program progressed the US closer to landing on the moon and eventually living in space.

Triple Threat Honorable Mention – Superhero Designs

Superheroes and theme parks have had a lot of crossover lately. One of the first bucket-list items I designed when I first got my laser cutter was a layered arc reactor. This evolved into earrings and pins, and I soon followed with a Captain America shield design.

I try to focus on using unique materials to set my designs apart. I use mirrored acrylic to give the illusion of lighting up without having to worry about batteries and wires, and specialty bronze and silver acrylics to replicate metal finishes.

 

 

See more of Stephen Christ on Twitter (@scbb11Sketch), Instagram (/design.pavilion), Bluesky (@designpavilion), shopping at his Etsy shop, and Redbubble.

So there you have it: SATURDAY SIX Artist Spotlight – The Theme Park Artwork of STEPHEN CHRIST! See you next weekend for the latest installment of the SATURDAY SIX, where we’ll look at something fun from the world of Disney and Universal. If you enjoyed yourself, be sure to check out the THEME PARK ENJOYMENT INDEX, giving a monthly recap of all the theme park news you need to know (and a lot more you don’t need to know, but we’re gonna tell you anyway). You can also follow Your Humble Author on Twitter (@derekburgan).

If you enjoyed this article, you will surely like the following: 

Artist Spotlight Class of 2021: SonderQuest | Sam Carter | Brian Cooper | Sterling Denham

Artist Spotlight Class of 2022: Rob Yeo | Ava Buric | Jess Siswick | Hayden Evans

Artist Spotlight Class of 2023: Marie Catano | Savannah Hamilton | Bunny Wars

Artist Spotlight Class of 2024: Jaime S. | Jess Feldman | Bryan Bindman

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SATURDAY SIX Artist Spotlight: The Theme Park Artwork of Phillip Weatherford (AKA The Horizoneer)

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SATURDAY SIX Presents: Artists Inspired by Universal’s HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS

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